Is The Battle Worth The Fight?

think of timing

Micro-level: One-on-one issues. Another critical component is when to approach a situation. Imagine your colleague or subordinate walks into the office, and the first thing you do is get on their back about the numbers in the report. How receptive will they then be in the morning? Probably not at all, in fact, they will be less alert than they usually are when 5pm rolls around.

An effective way to handle this situation is by sending the person in question an e-mail or giving them a call, requesting to meet them in order to review some issues. I used to think it was good to reassure the person and say "all is well" so that they don't sweat. But you should make them sweat. Let them sit there and wonder: "What on earth did I do?" You'll see how marvelously the message will sink in and how remarkably the numbers in the report will add up next time.

You shouldn't play such games with good employees that exhibit positive behavior. When you see someone with potential and efficient execution skills, you should communicate with them so that you feed off one another. But such employees are scarce. Negative employees with equally negative outlooks need some serious tough love; excessive favorable attention makes spoiled kids out of them. Give people an inch, they will take a mile. It's all right to give people an inch, as long as they've earned it. Sounds tough? It is, and unless you get tough, you will get walked on.

Macro-level: The big picture. Companies, managers and subordinates have predetermined times when feedback is given, decisions are made and results are discussed. Translation? If it is not the time to give feedback, wait until it is. If the results are discussed on Mondays and it is Friday, then wait until the weekend comes and goes, otherwise your delivery is ill-timed and your message will get lost. Understand the big picture and make sure that your message is appropriately timed and is conveyed to the right audience. The only ones that can allow themselves to get into a gunslinging match are those that have the rhetorical capacity and argumentative power to get out of a dual with Johnny Cochran.

tact is important

Sadly, the one trait that so many lack is tact. How you go about something is usually far more important than what your specific beef is about. Surely you have the "pleasure" of working with that one colleague who roams into the office like a bull? If you do not, consider yourself lucky. But large and small companies are full of them and they tend to overcrowd the pasture, waste resources and create conflict.

battle preparation

Sometimes you may have to speak to the person's superior, other times you may have to address your issues to the person directly. Sometimes a one-on-one is better, other times a moderator or witness is a better idea. Whatever you do, identify the issue at hand, the best medium to communicate your concern, the best time to address the issue, and the best people to moderate the discussion (if any are necessary). Finally, remember that what's most important is making that attempt to take on the other person's perspective. Only then can you come out victorious.

At the end of the day, it is your life. You should not have issues keeping you up at night, and if you do, that's a sign that you should be attacking the problem head-on. Always consider the issues, do your homework, check the facts, and run the numbers if necessary so that you do not get caught in the headlights. Let the bull get hit by the truck, you worry about picking up the buck.